It is hard to believe that we’ve been in PV for over two months already! We had become quite accustomed to the slower pace of Puerto Vallarta in off season. We have some favorite taco places in our neighborhood and have gotten to know the churro guy whose stand can always be found on our way home. There are hardly any tourists, though the month of August brought some domestic visitors before the Mexican school vacations came to an end. September was crickets, and many restaur

We arrived in Minnesota in mid-May to spend time with my (Michael) family. Because I grew up here, some things are still familiar. But because I left a long time ago, a lot has changed, and my relationship with this place is… complex. It’s not home. It’s where mom is, my brother and his family are, and one or two old friends; so, it’s lovely to visit. But it’s not home. And even though I lived most of my life in Seattle, last year’s visit proved that it’s not home anymore ei

Our high-octane tourist mode continued after Madrid, into Germany. While we visit Germany yearly, we have not made time to be a tourist there. What do you explore as a tourist in Germany? Castles! And, yes, Romans! Moselle The part of the Moselle river valley that snakes its way through Germany is beautiful countryside. The narrow, steep-sided valley, dotted with castle ruins, covered with terraced vineyards, anchored by the river, makes for a meandering and scenic drive. Our